Title: "Willie Mullins vs. Dan Skelton: The Thrilling Trainers’ Championship Showdown"
The trainers’ title fight between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton is well and truly on following the Irish maestro’s incredible Grand National result last Saturday.
Nick Rockett led home a 1-2-3-5-7 for the Closutton gang to cap off a brilliant Aintree Grand National Festival that included bagging four consecutive Grade 1s on the opening day and cut Skelton’s lead in the standings to roughly £120,000.
Skelton was the heavy odds-on favourite with Paddy Power to win the trainers’ championship before Mullins’ Merseyside magnificence and the roles have reversed as the current title holder sends a boat load of runners across the Irish Sea to Ayr on Saturday for a lucrative fixture headlined by the Scottish Grand National.
He boasts a total of 17 horses across the card and, crucially, a runner in every race. Skelton, meanwhile, has declared six horses across four renewals.
We’ve rounded up the two trainers’ runners across the cracking card and Timeform’s verdict on every race, otherwise, you can find the latest trainers’ championship odds on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app.
Prize Money: £50,000 (Winner: £28,135)
Dan Skelton saddles Etalon and Asta La Pasta (also declared Ayr Friday 15:50).
Willie Mullins saddles Western Diego.
Timeform: It evidently hasn’t been plain sailing for Dan Skelton with ETALON this campaign, yet there were definite signs of a revival on his penultimate start at Sandown and, with a tongue strap refitted (also had a wind op) following a lesser run at Kempton, he could just be worth chancing to bounce back. Western Diego is sure to be popular on handicap debut and along with Traprain Law and Homme Public, heads up the dangers in a competitive opener.
Prize Money: £50,000 (Winner: £25,720)
Dan Skelton saddles Theformismighty.
Willie Mullins saddles Loughglynn.
Timeform: LOUGHGLYNN has progressed well in maiden chases this season and his opening mark may well underestimate him with further improvement on the cards. Eyed has done nothing but improve for his current yard and rates the main threat ahead of the tough and likeable Masaccio.
Prize Money: £100,000 (Winner: £56,270)
Dan Skelton saddles Valgrand.
Willie Mullins saddles Batman Girac, Bunting, Ethical Diamond and Karafon.
Timeform: ETHICAL DIAMOND was an eyecatcher when fourth in the County at Cheltenham and can build on that promise and provide his yard with a significant winner in the trainers’ title race. Kabral du Mathan brings solid big-field form and is second choice ahead of another Willie Mullins runner Bunting, who proved way too headstrong in the 21f Coral Cup at Cheltenham but could prove a different proposition back at 2m.
Prize Money: £45,000 (Winner: £23,148)
Willie Mullins saddles Armed And Fabulous.
Timeform: RUBY ISLAND has been improving for Nicky Richards and arrives on the back of a career-best when winning at this course (21.4f). She has a fine record here and makes most appeal with this longer trip expected to suit. Lightly-raced Fox’s Fancy finished only a neck behind the selection last time, and she may well improve on her second run of the season returning to 3m. Rockola Vogue is unexposed over staying distances, as is Armed And Fabulous representing title-chasing Willie Mullins.
Prize Money: £200,000 (Winner: £112,540)
Dan Skelton saddles Sail Away and Snipe.
Willie Mullins saddles Captain Cody, Chosen Witness, Klarc Kent, Macdermott, Olympic Man and Spanish Harlem.
Timeform: Willie Mullins took this 12 months ago and could again hold sway with his unexposed handicap debutant CHOSEN WITNESS taken to emerge on top now he tackles a marathon trip for the first time. Joe Tizzard’s new recruit Rock My Way could emerge as the chief threat on the back of an excellent second in Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase, with The Kniphand, Wiseguy and Surrey Quest also firmly in the picture. Olympic Man and Captain Cody can’t be ruled out either from the all-conquering Mullins camp.
Prize Money: £20,000 (Winner: £10,562)
Willie Mullins saddles C’Est Ta Chance and Jump Allen.
Timeform: A clutch of potential improvers on show but JUMP ALLEN looks the way to go for Willie Mullins having turned a competitive-looking Naas handicap into a one-sided affair a month ago. Histrionic beat a subsequent winner at Chepstow and his limit has not yet been reached, with Calimystic another likeable type.
Prize Money: £20,000 (Winner: £10,406)
Willie Mullins saddles Chart Topper.
Timeform: QUEENSBURY BOY and Chart Topper are the pair that make most appeal. The latter has clocked some strong timefigures, notably when second in a Grade 2 at Kelso on most recent outing, but the former has more scope to improve further as a hurdler given his smart bumper form, which swings the vote narrowly in his favour.
Prize Money: £16,500 (Winner: £8,986)
Willie Mullins saddles Dysart Dolomite.
Timeform: Willie Mullins newcomer DYSART DOLOMITE is bred to be smart and gets the vote, with confidence increased should the betting vibes be strong. Conman John shaped well on his Newcastle bumper debut and is second choice ahead of Rules newcomer Kaklbrenner, who has had the form of his point win boosted.
